Mon Dec 02 16:01:33 UTC 2024: ## Syrian Rebels Launch Major Offensive, Seizing Much of Aleppo
**Aleppo, Syria –** In a stunning military advance, Syrian opposition fighters have seized control of most of Aleppo and pushed as far south as Hama in a matter of days. The rapid gains, the most significant since 2016, mark a dramatic shift in the ongoing Syrian civil war and have thrust various rebel factions back into the international spotlight.
The offensive, dubbed “Operation Deterrence of Aggression,” was coordinated by an umbrella group formed from the Fateh al-Mubin operations center, which falls under the Idlib-based Syrian Salvation Government (SSG). The largest fighting force involved is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate that later severed ties. HTS, estimated to have up to 30,000 fighters, effectively controls Idlib and holds significant economic power in the region.
Other key groups participating in the offensive include the National Liberation Front (NFL), which comprises several northern Syrian factions, and groups such as Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Izza. While some groups, like Jaish al-Izza, have received Western backing, HTS is largely self-funded and exerts considerable influence over the SSG. HTS’s control extends to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, a crucial revenue source.
The swift success of the offensive, according to some commanders, is attributed in part to a lack of significant Iranian counter-forces.
Meanwhile, a separate operation, “Dawn of Freedom,” has been launched by the Syrian Interim Government, targeting Kurdish-controlled areas in the northeast. This operation aims to liberate territories held by the PKK and PYD militias, groups designated as terrorist organizations by several countries, including Turkey and the United States. These operations highlight the complex and evolving dynamics of the Syrian conflict, with multiple factions vying for control and international actors supporting various sides.
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